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carbon fiber robustness
- Thread starter DB37
- Start date
, skinning should be fine as long as you keep it clean and oiled between use.Quite robust. I've got a D. Ralph EDC with carbon fiber handles. It's got an elongated thong hole (not just a round hole). From the edge of the hole to the end of the handle, the carbon fiber is only .40"-.45" thick. When I first looked at the knife, I thought that thin piece would break for sure. After two years, the carbon fiber looks the same as when I bought it.
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- May 9, 2000
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No. G-10, Micarta and carbon fiber are made in the same way. G-10 is a glass fiber base laminate, Micarta is a paper or cotton base laminate and carbon fiber is of course a carbon fiber based laminate. The phenolic or melamine resin systems that are used to make these materials are the same and this is the material that will determine how chemical resistant these materials are. Different phenolic or melamine resins will have varying resistances to harsh chemical agents, But all of them do an excellent job in this regard
Carbon fiber's advantage is in its lighter weight, in its very high flexural and impact strength and its equally high flexural modulus (stiffness).
*Edited to make a very important change. I first stated that Micarta is a paper and cotton laminate. It is actually a paper or cotton laminate.
Carbon fiber's advantage is in its lighter weight, in its very high flexural and impact strength and its equally high flexural modulus (stiffness).
*Edited to make a very important change. I first stated that Micarta is a paper and cotton laminate. It is actually a paper or cotton laminate.
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I wake up with morning high flexural modulus quite often!
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- Aug 8, 1999
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I love carbon fiber. It is my favorite when it comes to hi-tech materials. It is very scratch resistant and it's good looking. I think that it makes a really great pocket knife material. I can't say enough good things about carbon fiber.
My experience with carbon fiber has been very positive. It's very tough and durable and seems to be quite resistant to chemical attack at least, in my experience, with respect to gasoline. It's visually attractive and can be finished in a semi-rough finish that is fairly slip-proof. It should also easily stand the test of time.
You can say that again.
The dust is also rather nasty in your work space.
Required items for working carbon fiber are a respirator (I use a 3m 6000 model, works well, and is in-expensive) - if you do not have a respirator do not work CF, it'll mess you up.
A well ventilated work space and a good clean-up system if not working it right into a running vaccum system.
Longs sleeves, full length pants, head covering and eye protection.
When working carbon fiber you have two risks to deal with, the first and foremost being the dust.
Carbon fiber dust is more like millions of tiny carbon splinters - the dust lays heavy on stuff, and if you get your hand or arm in it, its like getting it in fiber-glass, lots of little splinters, they hurt and itch and are generally nasty. If you get them in your hair they will fall out in your clothes, down your back, into your eyes, your food, your car, your bed, etc. In your eyes they are like any other splinter, not fun I am sure.
But, and this is why you must have a respirator not just a dust mask or rag over your face, you can also breathe them in. A lung irritant to say the least, they have the potential for causing whole hosts of respritory problems.
The other concern is the phenolic itself - when working it the dust if inhaled/ingested can cause harm, but also if it get stoo hot (from friction) it'll let out some nasty gasses, like formaldehyde(sp?) - again, respirator time.
That said, I love C/F - its tought stuff, and I actually really really enjoy working it and enjoy the finished product.
For hard use stuff I prefer micarta or G-10 generall, because C/F can chip out around thong holes, etc. due to the nature of the material, the carbon fiber weave. A tighter more solid woven material like canvas/linen in micarta wont due that, and G-10 also has a tighter weave than C/F and wont do that.
I've shot at G-10, Micarta, and C/F - they hold up pretty well in thicknesses over 1/8" but are not really bullet proof, tough materials though. Very impact resistant (a 1200 FPS FMJ aside
) and durable, resistant to sun, rain, snow, mud, dirt, chemicals, etc.C/F is great for gents knives, general utility etc. but for a har duse combat or field knife, because of the chipping concerns I'd use a phenolic matrix based laminate with a tighter woven material, I.E. micarta.
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- Aug 24, 2003
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- 717
Ground carbon can also mess up electrical machinery, or so they say.
I don't think carbon is all that light. What is the case is that carbon laminates are light for their stiffness/strength, so a product like a fishing rod can be much lighter for a lure or line weight. But an equal sized bilet of carbon is probably about 50% resin, and that it will have in comon with glass or linen. For a similar volume linen might even be lighter. I have never measured these knife handle materials, but it is important not to draw from the lightness of materials in certain products like rods or arrows a conclusion that they are lighter by volume (I have no idea if anyone is doing that).
Carbon laminates don't take a hit very well, there are several reasons for this, but it is mostly a concern where something like a knick in a fishing rod can lead to failure, some of this is even a hang over from early tubes that were poorly engineered for twist and split.
In the case of a handle, particularly one rather poorly attached with only one or two screws or peened stakes, it will never be loaded up to the potential of the material. It is a cosmetic choice, rather than a performance one.
I don't think carbon is all that light. What is the case is that carbon laminates are light for their stiffness/strength, so a product like a fishing rod can be much lighter for a lure or line weight. But an equal sized bilet of carbon is probably about 50% resin, and that it will have in comon with glass or linen. For a similar volume linen might even be lighter. I have never measured these knife handle materials, but it is important not to draw from the lightness of materials in certain products like rods or arrows a conclusion that they are lighter by volume (I have no idea if anyone is doing that).
Carbon laminates don't take a hit very well, there are several reasons for this, but it is mostly a concern where something like a knick in a fishing rod can lead to failure, some of this is even a hang over from early tubes that were poorly engineered for twist and split.
In the case of a handle, particularly one rather poorly attached with only one or two screws or peened stakes, it will never be loaded up to the potential of the material. It is a cosmetic choice, rather than a performance one.